Daegu: Former President Park Geun-hye called on Monday for the ruling People Power Party (PPP) to maintain unity and fulfill its responsibilities, despite facing significant challenges from an opposition-controlled political landscape. Park's call for solidarity comes at a critical time as the Constitutional Court is poised to deliver its final ruling on the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park expressed her "deep concern" over the impeachment proceedings against President Yoon during a meeting with the PPP leadership at her residence in Daegu. Party officials disclosed that her remarks emphasized the importance of staying united as the party navigates through this tumultuous period. The meeting was attended by top PPP members, including Kwon Young-se, chief of the party's emergency steering committee, and floor leader Kweon Seong-dong. The Constitutional Court's impending ruling on Yoon's impeachment-stemming from his December 3 martial law attempt-could lead to his removal from office and a subsequent snap presidential election within 60 days if upheld.
Rep. Shin Dong-uk, the party's spokesperson, relayed Park's sentiments, noting her heavy-heartedness regarding President Yoon's situation while in custody. Park was quoted as expressing hope for the ruling party's unity for the nation's future and underscoring the imperative for the PPP to uphold its responsibilities to the public until the very end. She also highlighted the need for the party to persist in its duties despite possible challenging confrontations with the opposition.
Addressing the trial, Park conveyed her worries about the potential for deepening national division and escalating tensions. She also cautioned against allowing personal convictions to lead to confrontations, emphasizing that party leadership and lawmakers should not let individual beliefs overshadow party unity, as this would not assist in overcoming the crisis. Park's message was clear: "Unity is essential."
Park's call for unity is particularly resonant given her own history; she assumed the presidency in 2013 but was impeached and removed from office in March 2017 after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over an influence-peddling scandal involving her close associate, Choi Soon-sil. Her experiences lend weight to her warnings about the dangers of division and the importance of party cohesion during times of political turmoil.